Cairo – A wave of anger has swept through Egyptian football circles following the national team’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Senegal. The defeat, decided by a late goal, has been overshadowed by officiating decisions deemed unfair and questionable by many in Egypt.
With the ‘Pharaohs’ out of contention for the title, they will now face Nigeria in the third-place play-off, while Senegal advances to the final against Morocco.
Controversy Erupts Over Key Decisions
Former refereeing expert Gamal El-Ghandour has been a vocal critic of the officiating, asserting that the match was marred by a series of erroneous calls from the very beginning. He highlighted an early incident in the fourth minute when Emam Ashour appeared to be fouled by a Senegalese defender, arguing that it warranted a foul and a yellow card, which the referee ignored.
El-Ghandour also pointed to a questionable offside call against Egypt in the 28th minute, claiming that the assistant referee’s decision was completely unjustified. He did, however, concede that a penalty appeal for Ahmed Sayed Zizo in the 81st minute was correctly dismissed, as the player did not have clear control of the ball.
Furthermore, El-Ghandour questioned the referee’s decision to halt a promising Egyptian attack inside the penalty area in the 90th minute without a clear foul. He then focused on the most contentious moment: Sadio Mane’s winning goal for Senegal.
The goal, he argued, was shrouded in doubt, citing potential offside in the build-up or a possible handball by Mane. He criticized the lack of VAR intervention, stating that the incident raises serious questions about the integrity of the decision.
The Egyptian team and its supporters feel that the refereeing was biased towards Senegal, ultimately costing Egypt a place in the final. The debate is likely to continue for some time.
